.NET Framework 4.8 is installed but not showing in Visual Studio 2019 community

Question

My operating system is Windows 10 Pro.

I have .NET Framework 4.8 installed. I confirm it 2 ways:

1. Open Registry Editor then go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full key. Check the REG_DWORD entry named Release and its value is 528372. Check the REG_SZ entry named Version and its value is 4.8.04084.
2. Open File Explorer then go to C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework folder. There I see v4.0.30319 folder. Go inside it, then open Properties of Accessibility.dll file. Go to its Details and the Product version is 4.8.4084.0.

I have Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition version 16.4.5 installed. I open it then create a new project of Class Library (.NET Framework) type. In the Configure your new project section, under Framework dropdown, I see that the highest entry is .NET Framework 4.7.2. How come there is no entry for .NET Framework 4.8? What I need to do to solve this issue?

Answer 1

I have .NET Framework 4.8 installed.

There are 2 different flavors of each .NET Framework version, the runtime and the SDK. To reference .NET Framework 4.8 in VS2019, you need to install the .NET Framework 4.8 Developer Pack on the system. Just having the .NET Framework 4.8 runtime is enough to run .NET Framework apps, but not develop them.

You can see a list of all of the .NET Framework Developer Packs here:

https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/visual-studio-sdks

You can confirm it is installed by going to "Programs and Features" in your control panel and look for "Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack".

Alternatively, you can install the targeting pack through the Visual Studio Installer by selecting ".NET Framework targeting pack" under "Individual components".